Drivers looking for parking in downtown Austin do not have to worry about paying the meter on evenings, nights and weekends, but the City of Austin thinks too much free parking isn’t always a good thing.

City staff believes free parking may encourage people to park too long. So now, the city will consider extending metered parking hours to see if it could free up spaces and help businesses.

Austin Transportation Department Regulatory Manager Steve Grassfield said in a city, the ideal amount of parking taken is no more than 85 percent.

City numbers show 87 percent of parking is taken on weeknights and 96 percent on Saturdays. Grassfield said these percentages come with problems.

"With free parking, there typically is very little turnover at night, so the businesses that have parking out front would have the same vehicle out front all the time," Grassfield said.

Ron Hurly is a managing partner at The Belmont on Sixth Street, and he is not sure extending metered parking is a good idea.

"I don't think that one or two people being upset about one or two parking spaces is a reason to change things at this point," Hurley said. "I think there are a lot of added benefits to free parking after 5:30."

The Belmont also offers valet, so it doesn't rely solely on metered parking. But Hurly said only 30 to 40 percent of customers choose to pay for valet.